Jesus' focus in verses 5-13 was on the entirety of Daniel's 70th week, but now in verses 14-23 He brings the reader back to the midpoint of the tribulation to focus on what is called the "great tribulation." We can
conclude from the fact that this is the worst time period ever to come upon humanity that it must not be a reference to the 70 A.D. destruction of Jerusalem, but it must be the time period just prior to the breaking forth of the Messianic Kingdom. We also learn in this passage that the way to guard against following after false Christs is by knowing that when Jesus returns, He will do so personally, bodily, and in great power.